Do you struggle to settle your baby down? Is she fussy, and cries often?
Remember that each baby has a different temperament and therefore they might cry for different reasons. If you offer her a dummy whenever she cries, you are not necessarily fulfilling her needs. She might have a need to be carried, need to be touched, need for attention, need for conversation or a need for a clean nappy.
The next time your baby seems fussy or unsettling, try one of the following:
– Talk quietly and sing to your baby
– Play harmonious music
– Provide tangible boundaries e.g. by swaddling in a blanket or surrounding her with a nest of cushions.
– Offer variety e.g. bathing and moving back and forth in the water, watching mobiles, talking.
– Satisfy the need for skin and body contact (sleep and bath together or try baby massage).
– Carry the baby. Studies have shown that babies cry less if they are carried or worn in a sling or carrier for longer periods. Just three hours a day reduces crying by 45%.
– Stay calm, consciously breathe deep into your abdomen, try to feel the ground under your feet.
– Get help! Consult a breastfeeding consultant, a midwife or another professional whom you trust.
